14 February 2015 DISCOP Istanbul Preview earlier than last year), with a selection of program keynotes and hands-on educational sessions to help participants learn more about the strategies, technologies and people that are making strides in the business. Conferences featured on the schedule that day include “Count The Audience? Not So Easy To Do These Days,” “Special Glimpse of What It’s Like toWork Inside theWorld’s Leader of Alternative News Reporting” and “Social Media is Good for You.” For the fifth edition of DISCOP Istanbul, organizers also added The Licensing Day on February 25, developed in partnership with Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) in Turkey and brand media and licensing agency LISANS MEDYA. The Licensing Day will offer a special educational program to teach participants what they need to know to bolster their licensing and merchandising business in Turkey. The Format Day on February 26 will explore the lasting power of scripted and unscripted formats, and the challenges associated with adapting storylines to make them relevant across various cultures and markets. There will be a 90-minute session offering insight into how to create storylines that travel across borders. The Format Day luncheon will be hosted in honor of independent producers, who are invited to pitch original ideas, and will gather VIP guests at the forefront of the format business in Turkey, CEE, MENA and CIS countries. A question and answer session will follow each pitch. Patrick Zuchowicki of organizer Basic Lead said they are seeing the strongest increase in buyers from countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Abu Dhabi. “We have had so far a 100 percent growth in pre-registration from these countries,” Zuchowicki said. “In terms of sellers, we have a Korean Pavilion and a Chinese Pavilion (25 companies between the two countries), which we did not have last year. And, we have more companies from France,” he added. Can Okan, president and CEO of ITV Inter forward to meeting with clients from the Middle East and the Balkans, where we already have strong relationships.” Bertolotti explained that “Pay-TV is traditionally our main area of focus in the region because of the nature of our shows and of the local TVmarket.”But,headded, “We’verecentlynoticed a renewed interest from free-TV broadcasters for top-performing U.S. cable franchises. At DISCOP, we will continue pushing our new slate of scripted content, under the recently launched banner A+E Studios International.” Since DISCOP Istanbul “accommodates many territories including the Middle East, CIS, CEE and even Latin American countries,” said Izzet Pinto, CEO of Global Agency, “for each of the region’s different interests, we bring our entire catalog to the market.” He added that they are also launching new projects. Pinto has noticed that “each year, the number of participants increases by almost 20 percent, which allows us to meet new customers, which is quite exciting. In addition, we also see the same clients and friends whom we have known for years.” Televisa Internacional’s director of Sales for the Middle East and CIS, Silvia D. Garcia, looks forward to DISCOP Istanbul. “It is very important to maintain the business relationships with existing clients and [grow relationships with] new ones,” she said. Garcia noted that she hopes to meet with clients from the Middle East and Central Asia. She added, “The region continues to evolve rapidly, so we are ready to meet the region’s needs. With today’s technologies that have nurtured different distribution platforms, Televisa Internacional is ready to meet the needs of these clients as well.” “Turkish dramas are of course popular fare at DISCOP Istanbul,” said Emre Görentaş of Calinos Entertainment, who added that his Istanbulbased company is bringing its entire catalog to the market. DISCOP is organized by Los Angeles- and Johannesburg-based Basic Lead and held at the International Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Turkey. By Sara Alessi. Medya is “excited about the market, as usual.” He noted that DISCOP Istanbul grows each year, and at each market, ITV launches new titles, in addition to presenting its catalog. Okan explained that period dramas are popular in the region, and ITV is launching two new period dramas, titled ResurrectionandFilinta, at DISCOP this year. The company will also host a party on February 24. Likewise, Hasan Bozaslan of Ser Films noted, “Our expectations are always high.” Ser Films attends DISCOP to sell products to new territories. Among those Bozaslan hopes to reach this time around are European and Far East countries, as well as Latin America. He added that the company “always presents [its] library along with new programs.” “DISCOP is a very dynamic market,” said Lorenzo Bertolotti, manager of International Content Sales, EMEA at A+E Networks. “The region is not rigidly defined, allowing new players to come into the mix often. At A+E Networks, we’re always focused on strengthening our existing relationships and expanding our network of clients. Turkey is a very interesting and growing market, and one on which we have a particular focus, not only for content distribution, but also for selling formats. We’re also looking (Continued from Cover) “Each year, the number of participants increases by almost 20 percent, which allows us to meet new clients, which is quite exciting.” — Izzet Pinto, Global Agency The meeting tables area at DISCOP Istanbul 2014 The ITV Inter Medya stand at DISCOP Istanbul 2014
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